Forged for All? Amazon HQ2 & the Future of PittsburghHuman Rights, the Right to the City, and Equity implications of the City of Pittsburgh’sFuture. Forged. For All PlanAmazon put forward a “wish list that set off an inter-city competition to become the site of the company’s planned new headquarters. Pittsburgh was one of more than 230 cities to submit proposals. But here and elsewhere, the general public had little opportunity to discuss cities’ offers to Amazon and how this development would impact residents. This 2-panel series will provide spaces for Pittsburgh residents to learn more about the likely effects of theCity of Pittsburgh’s proposalto host “Amazon HQ2.” While the project would create certain kinds of jobs, would they, as leaders claim, be “forged for all”? Moreover, how will they impact Pittsburgh’s already severeaffordable housing crisis, and its racial inequities, infrastructure, and public services? Panelists will also examinehow people in other cities have respondedto similar initiatives around the country, and discuss ways that city residents can work to ensure that planning and development better accounts for the needs of residents for affordable housing and quality public services like transit, education, and urban infrastructure.

Media coverage of Pittsburgh Forum on Human Rights and the Amazon HQ2 Proposal

SEE MORE BELOWUniversity Forum Wed. Feb. 7:Pittsburgh’s universities have been strong boosters of theCity of Pittsburgh’s proposalto host “Amazon HQ2.” While the project would create jobs for highly educated workers and increase demand for training and research in technology fields, would it benefit all members of the University communities, as policy makers claim? Would it improve the quality of life for all our city’s residents? This panel will provide varied perspectives from university staff, faculty, analysts, and administrators about the likely impact of a Pittsburgh Amazon HQ2.Panelists:Waverly Duck, Director, Urban Studies Program, University of Pittsburgh; Rebecca Bagley, Vice Chancellor for Economic Partnerships, University of Pittsburgh; William Generett Jr., J.D. Vice President for Community Engagement, Duquesne University; Beth Shaaban, Ph.D. Student and organizer with the Graduate Student Organizing Committee; Jason Beery, Urbankind Institute and author of Is this for us? Qs about Amazon's HQ2

Black Agenda Report Podcast: **Greg LeRoy**, of Good Jobs First, warns the remaining 20 cities bidding to become Amazon’s second headquarters not to believe the corporation’s promises of $5 billion in investments and 50,000 good-paying jobs. Cites always lose out on these corporate mega-deals, said LeRoy. Some bids would allow Amazon to pocket its employees’ tax payments. “We’re giving away other people’s money, and without the permission or knowledge of the workers in almost every case,” he said.